LAUSR

Objectives The US older population is on the rise and projected to be 42% minority by 2050. Cognitive impairment is one of the major public health concerns of an aging population, and diet is one possible modifiable risk factor. However, we have limited knowledge of diet associations with cognition in minorities as most of the findings are either not reported by race or the data is not available for non-white populations. In a previous study, we found Mediterranean diet associated with slower cognitive decline in the biracial population of Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP). In this study, we examined this association in CHAP separately by race (Blacks and Whites). Methods Analyses included 4985 participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project (63% African American, mean age = 75 ± 6.0 years, mean education = 12.6 ± 3.6 years) who completed a food frequency questionnaire and at least two cognitive assessments (a composite of 4 cognitive tests) over an average follow-up of 6.3 years. Computed scores of adherence to the Mediterranean diet were analyzed in tertiles of intake. We used mixed models adjusted for age, sex, education, participation in cognitive activities, physical activity, and total calories. Results Among Whites, both the middle (β = 0.014, P = 0.06) and highest tertiles of Mediterranean scores (β = 0.022, P = 0.003) were associated with slower cognitive decline compared to the lowest tertile of scores. Among Blacks, only the highest tertile of Mediterranean scores was associated with slower cognitive decline (T3 vs. T1: β = 0.014, P = 0.016; T2 vs. T1: β = -0.004, P = 0.92). The associations remained similar when further adjusted for cardiovascular conditions. Conclusions The Mediterranean diet associations with cognition may vary by race. Further study is required to understand these potential racial differences for the impact of diet on cognition. Funding Sources RFAG054057.